The Butterfly Project

Was created for self-injurers who feel they are ready to stop and need the motivation or support to do so.

THE RULES:

1. When you feel like you want to cut, take a marker or pen and draw a butterfly on wherever the self-harm occurs.
2. Name the butterfly after a loved one, or someone that really wants you to get better.
3. NO scrubbing the butterfly off. It has to come off of your body naturally.
4. If you cut before the butterfly is gone, it dies. If you don’t cut, it lives.
5. If you have more than one butterfly, cutting kills them all.
6. Another person may draw them on you. These butterflies are extra special. Take good care of them.
7. Even if you don’t cut, feel free to draw a butterfly anyways, to show your support. If you do this, name it after someone you know that is suffering right now, and tell them.
8. Try keeping track of how many butterflies have successfully flown away. It will give you a sense of accomplishment and strength.

Variation of The Butterfly Project

Instead of drawing a butterfly on the area of self-injury, there is a more permanent method: tattoos. By tattooing a butterfly on the area, it will never fade. It will never die. People who tattoo over areas of self-injury, stop injuring that area.